Jacob Bromwell, the Hand-Crank Sifter, and Removing the Lumps that Hinder Personal Development.

The Encouragement Express, "Bringing you encouragement from the simple things in life."

The hand-crank sifter!

My wife has two. One that she paid good money for and the other a hand-me-down from her mom.

The last time I looked they’re in our kitchen’s bottom drawer, on stand-by, ready to use, right below a compartment filled with Saran Wrap, a roll of Reynold’s Wrap, and a box of Dollar General baggies stored for future half-consumed casseroles, and other save-for-later eatables.

I’m not sure where she bought her sifter.

We’ve been married 40 years, so I know she didn’t buy it from Amazon.

And I’m pretty sure that it wasn’t purchased from Lowes or Home Depot. I’ve never seen a “Sifter Aisle” in any Home-Improvement store.

But my stomach is thankful for her wise investment and for having a back-up, just in case the first-string suffers an injury.

A sifter … though it appears to be an outdated vintage contraption used in your great-great-great grandma’s kitchen, is the baker’s right-hand man. A dream-come true.

It doesn’t get the lime-light that stoves, ovens, microwaves, mixers, or even electric can-openers get … but try baking a cake or frying fried chicken without sifting your flour.

Good luck.

You see, a sifter marvelously does something that the heavy hitters can’t do. It levels lumps from the flour, making it possible for you to look like Gordan Ramsey, Bobby Flay, or Rachel Ray’s twin.

I’m thankful for Jacob Bromwell, the sifter’s inventor.

He engineered the world’s original flour sifter that’s been an enduring kitchen classic since 1819.

That’s a great track record in anyone’s book.

Here’s a little information about Mr. Bromwell, gathered from his company’s website.

Bromwell, a veteran of the War of 1812, built the Bromwell Brush Manufacturing Company, our nation’s first housewares company, a six-floor business with over 1,000 catalog products.

Today the company’s name has been shortened to Jacob Bromwell.

Though its founder has been laid to rest for years, the family-owned business is alive and well, producing and marketing its iconic brand across the globe.

The company still cranks out its legendary sifter for cooks who can’t wait to get their hands dusted with white flour.

Just as a sifter magically turns lumpy flour into a smooth, powdery mixture moving the baking process forward, your personal development can only move in the right direction if you remove the lumps that stand in your way.

Every lump interferes with your growth.

Each lump blocks your progress.

Any lump must be “aerated.”

Here are a few suggestions:

· The lump of an inferiority complex.

· The lump of not accepting responsibility.

· The lump of giving up on your dreams.

· The lump of the fear of failure.

· The lump of negativity.

· The lump of a poor work ethic.

Now, here’s your Principle, a Plan, and a Positive Approach to Follow.

Principle - Lumps impede progress.

A Plan - Determine to aerate and level lumps that work against your personal development. Wake up each morning determined. Go to bed every night with determination. Refuse to be lumpy!

A Positive Approach to Follow - Lumps … bumps … the only difference is the first letter. They both block your progress in your personal development.

Sift AWAY!

-Howell